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07.10.2015 Politics

Three Assemblies in Western fail to elect Presiding Members

07.10.2015 LISTEN
By GNA

Takoradi, Oct 07, GNA - Three Metropolitan and District Assemblies in the Western Region Tuesday failed to elect Presiding Members to lead them.

They are Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan, Wassa East and Shama Assemblies which failed to obtain the two-thirds of the valid votes cast.

Mr Yusif Gyamson, government appointee obtained 39 votes as against his opponent, Mr John Davies, elected member for Anaji who had 32 for the STMA. For Wassa East, Mr Stephen Kwofie, a former Presiding Member had 17 with his opponent Mr Stephen Angu scoring seven votes.

At the Shama Assembly, Mr Samuel K. Borlu incumbent PM and elected member for Awuna obtained 14 votes, as against his opponent Mr Francis Biney who obtained 10 votes.

The three Assemblies voted for the third time without securing Presiding Members, and were therefore adjourned to different dates.

On the Contrary, the 44 house membership of the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Assembly re-elected the incumbent Mr Joseph Abban Mensah, a businessman as the PM in the first round of voting.

Unfortunately, both Wassa East and Shama assemblies had only two females each in the 32 and 25 houses respectively, however, STMA has ten females of the 71 and Tarkwa-Nsuaem four.

Commodore Steve Obimpeh, a former Minister, performed the inauguration for the STMA and Shama, Dr Kwabena Donkor, the Minister of Energy took that of the Wassa East and Mr George Dadzie handled that of the Tarkwa Nsueam.

They urged the members to relegate personal interests to the background and get committed to raising the living standards of the people.

"Work in unity and with a common goal of developing your various electoral areas," he added.

They said assemblies formed the bedrock of the decentralization process and called on them to come out with strategies that would help in developing the country as a whole.

Nana Kobina Nketia V, Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area, called on the members not to politicize the assembly concepts and urged the electorate to live together as one with a common goal to develop their areas.

The inaugural ceremonies were attended by Members of Parliaments, Security Agencies, Traditional Authorities and other dignitaries.

GNA

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